Meet the INS Team!

Chris serves as the Chief Executive Officer of INS and INCC. In this role, Chris works with the executive management team to develop strategies for new business development and overall organizational growth. Chris began his INS career in 1995 when INS did not have e-mail or the internet, and people had to use a telephone to communicate. He held positions as meetings manager, director of meetings, director of marketing, and executive vice president before assuming his current position as CEO in May 2023

An avid and passionate Boston sports fan, Chris has spent the last 20 years enjoying one Boston team championship after another while trying to convince his three equally passionate adult children that Boston sports wasn’t always this wonderful.

As part of the INS executive team, Maria is responsible for maximizing the operational performance of the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) and the Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation (INCC) and achieving each organization’s financial goals. In addition, works to implement the strategic view and initiatives of both organizations as set forth by the board of directors and helps ensure that all mission objectives are met.   Maria is also responsible for all human resource initiatives and key performance indicators.

Maria completed her MBA program with a specialization in Human Resource Management. She also sat for and passed the CAE exam and was awarded the designation of Certified Association Executive. When not working, Maria’s favorite role is that of Nonnie to her 2 beautiful grandchildren.

Dr. Marlene Steinheiser, Chief Clinical Officer at INS, is responsible for supporting the vision and mission of the organization nationally and globally, which includes strategic planning and development of new programs, research, and education. With 39 years of nursing experience, she has been a CRNI® since 1991. Her background includes work in diverse clinical settings, faculty roles in both pre-licensure and post-licensure nursing education, and service as a nurse practice consultant for a state nursing regulatory board. Her passion for infusion therapy and vascular access has been integrated into each of her varied career roles.

Dr. Steinheiser holds a PhD from the University of Arizona, a master’s degree and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Akron, and a nursing diploma from Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital School of Nursing. She conducts research on infusion therapy, vascular access, and compassion fatigue in nursing, with a particular interest in mixed methods research and qualitative data analysis. She also presents nationally and internationally on infusion therapy and vascular access topics.

Derek Fox, MSN, RN, VA-BC, CRNI®, NEA-BC, serves as the INS Nurse Educator, dedicated to advancing clinical excellence in infusion and vascular access. With a profound commitment to this specialty, Derek leverages his extensive experience as a clinician, leader, and educator to shape the future of the infusion specialty.

In his role at INS, Derek fosters connections among clinicians and facilitates robust educational opportunities through various platforms including webinars, annual meetings, and the INS podcast. His initiative aims to empower healthcare professionals with the latest advancements and best practices in infusion therapy. Derek also evaluates infusion programs and resources seeking the INS Seal of Approval designation.

Beyond his role at INS, Derek has cultivated a diverse career marked by significant achievements in healthcare leadership and education. As a board-certified nurse executive, he has demonstrated a strong track record in managing accreditation compliance, developing policy and procedures, and enhancing shared governance structures. His expertise extends to clinical compliance management, systematic leadership, and the strategic formation of high-performing clinical teams.

Throughout his career, Derek has been instrumental in creating comprehensive educational programs tailored to the needs of both novice and seasoned vascular access nurses. He has developed state approved IV therapy programs, virtual vascular access and infusion courses, lead clinical and education teams nationally, and championed initiatives that elevate standards in clinical practice.

Dr. Susan Lown is the newly appointed Editor in Chief of the Journal of Infusion Nursing. With over 30 years of experience in clinical nursing, academia, and professional development, Dr. Lown brings a broad knowledge base to her new role.

Dr. Lown is a nursing professor at Saint Francis University in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and a home infusion nurse for Option Care Health. Dr. Lown has been a member of INS since 2017. She was a peer reviewer for the Journal of Infusion Nursing during this time. Dr. Lown was also an INS National Council of Education member for two consecutive terms, helping deliver high-quality programming at INS annual conferences.

Dr. Lown holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Indian Wesleyan University in organizational and systems leadership and a Master of Science in Nursing degree from Saint Francis University. She has been a National League of Nursing Certified Nurse Educator since 2011.

Outside of her professional work, Dr. Lown enjoys spending time outdoors. She finds reading fiction a fulfilling way to unwind from the demands of her professional life and loves to explore new and traditional cuisine.

Dr. Lown is honored to contribute to further developing infusion nursing and delivering quality infusion therapy to all patients globally. As Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Infusion Nursing, Dr. Lown endeavors to promote the continued publication of practical, evidence-based, and forward-thinking infusion-related research.

Prof. Victor D. Rosenthal, MD, PhD, is the Editor-in-Chief of the Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. He specializes in internal medicine and infectious diseases and holds a PhD in epidemiology. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Miami and the Founder and chief scientific officer of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium, where he leads 2,500 researchers in 45 low—and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.

He has authored 425 scientific publications, including peer-reviewed articles, conference proceedings, standards of practice, and book chapters. He is cited over 29,000 times in PubMed-indexed literature and has an H-index of 73. He has received 10 major international awards, including honors from APIC and SHEA. His editorial contributions include serving as editor-in-chief, editorial board member, and reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals and standards and recommendations issued by organizations such as WHO, JCI, ISID, and several MoHs worldwide.

Dr. Rosenthal was among the first to study BSIs in LMICs. He developed the INICC Surveillance Online System, a tool he made freely available to support the surveillance and prevention of BSIs. For 37 years, Dr. Rosenthal has dedicated his career to educating healthcare workers in LMICs and advancing BSI prevention. His mission is driven by a clear and powerful goal: improving patient outcomes and reducing vascular access device-related complications and associated mortality in resource-limited settings.

Donna coordinates the manuscript review process of the Journal of Infusion Nursing and other publications. She corresponds with peer reviewers and authors in the request, receipt, and review of manuscripts, maintaining manuscript logging control. She copyedits all accepted manuscripts for the journal. She is also responsible for collecting accepted articles, preparing them for publication, and working with the publishing production editor and printers to meet scheduling deadlines. 

Donna received her BA in Communications from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. Prior to joining INS, Donna worked for another medical journal, first as Circulation Manager, then as Managing Editor. She began editing early in life, when she would correct the grammar and spelling on the notes friends passed to her in school (this was not usually appreciated). Donna is an avid reader and loves cats. She enjoys watching Braves baseball and college basketball and football games.

Meghan plans, organizes, and executes various events to promote INS’ brand, engage the audience, and drive business objectives. In addition to the events, she manages all aspects of the INS membership program, provides exceptional service to our members, and oversees the administration of our membership database using Fonteva software. Meghan drives membership growth through targeted strategies, outreach efforts, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

Meghan received her MBA from Curry College in 2014 and passed the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) exam shortly after, in 2015. She loves spending time with her three boys and husband in Massachusetts. If she’s not chasing a 2-year-old, debating with a 4-year-old, or driving a 6-year-old to his activities then you’ll find her collaborating with her husband on a regretful DIY project, reading a book, and hopefully unwinding with a cold glass of wine.

Jill acts as a project manager for both member services and INS national conferences. For membership services, she ensures the current software platforms and marketing initiatives support membership needs while also locating potential places for future expansion. For INS national conferences, she coordinates all meetings logistics—hotels, vendors, and exhibitors—and educational content, including planning, organizing, implementing, and gathering data for educational program evaluations. She also coordinates speakers and educational content for other INS programs, acts as the liaison with the National Council on Education (NCOE), and oversees all of the virtual learning assets in the INS LEARNING CENTER.

 Jill received her Bachelor of Science degree from Bridgewater State University in 2015. When she’s not binge-watching Real Housewives, Jill enjoys spending time with loved ones, online shopping, and a nice glass of “sauv b.”

Susan enjoys watching Boston sports, spending time with her family, tweeting to the masses, and traveling when she can. In her secret life she is a geek. She loves social media and the communication aspect of it all. When she has time, she works on friends’ computers to solve software/virus issues. She also enjoys going to live blues shows. Susan is also a foodie, trying new food of all shapes and sizes and is always on the hunt for a good restaurant, tweeting about her experiences along the way.

Cher is responsible for recording and maintaining all business financial transactions and financial reports. Other responsibilities include monitoring the financial health, compliance, and forecasting for INS. She also assists in the member services department. Cher holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Nichols College.

She spends her free time with her three children, husband, family and friends. She enjoys going to the gym, biking, hiking, walking, and spending time on the beach. Cher is the Assistant Treasurer for the New England English Old Sheepdog Rescue, a rescue program for abandoned, mistreated, or unwanted Old English Sheepdogs.

As the Graphic Design & Marketing Manager, Whitney leads the creation and execution of strategic marketing initiatives that support the INS mission, strengthen brand identity, and foster member engagement. Whitney manage campaigns across departments to promote educational resources, certification programs, publications, and national meetings. 

Whitney received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida (Go Gators!) Outside of work, she loves spending time with her husband and baby boy, relaxing at the beach, and getting lost in a good book. 

Mia is an experienced marketing and graphic design professional who collaborates closely with the Graphic Design & Marketing Manager to implement strategic marketing initiatives, create engaging collateral, and manage campaigns across email and social media platforms. She designs and develops both educational and promotional materials and has recently taken on responsibilities for producing the INSider newsletter.

Mia holds a BFA in Graphic Design with a minor in Business Communications from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. She brings creative ideas to life while enhancing member engagement and ensuring campaign success. Her work combines strategic thinking with compelling visual storytelling to strengthen brand presence and connect with audiences effectively.

DeAnna Dyhr joined INS in January as the Project Manager and has hit the floor running. DeAnna is a Chicago native and diehard White Sox fan and a reluctant Bears fan. They bring over a decade of project and program management experience. DeAnna received a Masters of Science, Nonprofit Management from Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership and her Bachelor of Science from Loyola University Chicago. They are also a certified paralegal and currently pursuing their Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. When DeAnna is not working they are starting knitting projects and then abandoning them.